. . .because Morris, Minnesota, is a pleasant, quiet, safe yet intellectually stimulating place on the west central Minnesota prairie, home of the U of M-Morris and a whole lot of interesting people. - morris mn

"You'll never get ahead if you don't take care of what you have." - Doris Waddell, RIP

A historic building on our U of M-Morris campus - morris mn

The multi-ethnic building was the original home of the music department at UMM. (B.W. photo)

Friday, January 8, 2016

Thinking of America and MN just before WWII

In wake of big blizzard of 1940

Just
think of this nation as it existed in 1940. We talked of "the great
war" and it was a reference to World War I. Armistice Day focused on
that. People tuned in on the radio to hear the American Legion Armistice
Day program from Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
Conventional
wisdom has it that FDR's New Deal hadn't pulled us out of the Great
Depression. Let's just say success was halting, or seemed so. Europe was
already ablaze with World War II. It might be easy to
forget we weren't on board with that horrible conflict right from the
start. Americans were quite determined to stay out of it. Thus we had
the "America First" movement with our famed Minnesotan Charles Lindbergh
as a leading spokesperson.
The 1940 Democratic platform pledged against participation in foreign wars, except in case of attack.
As Minnesotans experienced late fall and early winter of 1940, we were a year away from the "Jap"
attack on Pearl harbor, which overnight made it inevitable we'd plunge
into that hellish conflagration called WWII. Had President Roosevelt
allowed Pearl Harbor to happen? Speculation was rife.
In 1940 the
University of Minnesota football team won the national championship. Two
days before the famous Armistice Day blizzard, the U beat Michigan and
its Heisman winner, Tommy Harmon. Bruce Smith raced in a memorable
80-yard touchdown run for the winning Gophers at the old Memorial
Stadium. I saw one game at Memorial Stadium in the fall of 1973, when
Tony Dungy was our quarterback.
In 1940 we could hardly
imagine getting big league pro teams established here. In 1940 we had
the controversial third term election of FDR.
Reading about the
Armistice Day blizzard, one is struck by the huge role of hunting in our
culture. The history of that event includes so much material about
those (male) hunters all over the place, dealing with the adversity of
that storm, many destined not to survive. The clothing available to
hunters was not nearly as good as today's, in terms of offering
protection from the elements. And, the elements became an absolute bear
in a short period of time.
Initially, deer hunters liked the idea of
snow falling: they could track deer better. Snow would also provide
better visibility in the woods. Duck hunters, who ended up especially
vulnerable in the storm, thought birds would be easy to find. Oh, if all
these people could have just stayed home. The lucky people were the
ones who could just hole up at home. As for everyone else, those are the
people who ended up telling dramatic tales of all they experienced that
day, Monday, November 11, 1940. It was a day that "went down in infamy"
a year before Pearl Harbor.
The weather forecast had been quite inadequate. The forecasters used that maddeningly vague word of "flurries."
I have read a number of survival stories, including Betty Waage's
(of Morris). Betty's story happened here in Morris. It's preserved in
William Hull's book: "All Hell Broke Loose." My mother was offended by
this title until I convinced her, with considerable effort, that the
title was offered in the proper spirit. If you cannot use the word
"hell" to describe that blizzard, then it would have no application.
The
broad population was caught off guard by the blizzard. There's always
one exception to the rule, of course, and in this vein I'll present the
name of Bill Schutte. Bill left his home in St. Louis Park
early on the morning of that fateful day. He felt it was a fine morning
indeed. He was a pilot so he scanned the skies in a different manner
than the rest of us. He was sensitive to what was happening in the
atmosphere. At 9:30 a.m. he called his wife at home. Her first name
isn't provided in my research, but I came across "Mrs. Schutte"
which was common style at the time, and what you'll find in back issues
of our Morris Sun Tribune newspaper from when Arnold Thompson was
editor. (I did some work for Arnold.)
Bill asked "Mrs. Schutte" to check their "barograph," a self-registering barometer. Mrs. Schutte
reported that the instrument must be broken, as the recording needle
had dropped so low, it left the graph paper on the drum. Bill called a
friend at the U.S. Weather Bureau office at the airport, then called
"Wold-Chamberlain." His friend there offered confirmation: the needle
there had completely moved off the drum.
Bill decided to go back
home. He put chains on his car tires. He filled the gas tank. The gas
station attendant was in shirt sleeves and was incredulous. Bill went
back downtown and put his car in the company garage. The storm came.
Bill left his office and began an extended process of picking up
stranded office workers and driving them home. Real late he returned to
the garage and then "bedded down" on an office desk. Perhaps a statue
should have been erected of the prescient Mr. Schutte. God bless his wife too, whatever her first name.

Music to preserve memories
Several
days ago I put up a post that presented a song I wrote, inspired by the
Armistice Day blizzard in Minnesota. I like the song very
much, but when finished with writing it, I felt I hadn't fulfilled the
mission totally. Maybe I hadn't covered all the ground I should have.
With my mind so full of details connected to the blizzard, I went to
work on a second song.
Perhaps my mind got so focused on the event
because my late father always had an interesting story to tell. I heard
that tale from when I was very young. My mother, about a junior in high
school at the time, must have just taken refuge in their house, a
minimal house but still sufficient, in Brainerd MN. My
mother never said much about the blizzard. She had a brother Edwin who
was so typical of young men of that time, about to be swept into WWII
commitments. He survived the war. Brainerd had a National Guard unit that got swept into utter tragedy, as it was sent to the Phillippines where they were captured by the Japanese. (Edwin wasn't part of that.)
There
is nothing good about war. The war may have pulled us permanently out
of the Depression. Too bad we couldn't have fought it with rubber
bullets.
What if we had never been forced to build up our military so much? What would have happened in connection to the Korea and Viet Nam conflicts? Could the Red Army have wiped out the Nazis without so much help from the U.S.?
My
second song about the great Armistice Day blizzard of 1940 has a melody
that is more consistent with ponderous lyrics. I'm thinking right now
that if I have either song recorded, it would be the second. I fact, I
might have it done soon. Here are the lyrics:

Summer scenes around Morris, 2012

Click on the image to view a Flickr album of photos taken around the Morris area in the warm weather months of 2012. This group includes photos taken at the 2012 UMM graduation. The image above taken near Perkins Lake was chosen for display in the "Minnesota Explorers" Flickr gallery which is linked to Rick Kupchella's "Bring Me the News" MN website. Also chosen was a field of sunflowers photo I took. I'm delighted to have such platforms available. - B.W.

Past MACA Tiger football photos:

City of Morris perspective:

Pin it on your chest!

Click on the above image to access our "City Data" page.

Morris Theater - morris mn

Click on this image to read thoughts/reflections on our Morris Theater, which is hanging on through changing times (as a co-op). There is a link at the bottom of this post to read part 2 as well. These posts were written in spring of 2010 so there are some dated references. Any Morris native can spin some fond recollections of enjoying cinema fare there with friends.

Enjoy some fall scenery around Morris:

Enjoy some winter scenes around Morris:

Sam Smith statue - morris mn

Click on the image to read about the Sam Smith "running rifleman" statue at Summit Cemetery. This post explores the life of Samuel Smith, early Morris resident. He fought for the Union cause in several major engagements in the Civil War. The statue is patterned after the statue for the First Minnesota Regiment at Gettysburg National Park. This post is the newest of three that I have written about Sam Smith. I consider it the most comprehensive about the man. The statue can be an overlooked landmark of Morris MN. Everyone here ought to be familiar with it. Smith raised a large family north of Morris.

The first building here

In 1871 the first building erected within the village of Morris was the headquarters of the chief engineer of the railroad, C.H.F. Morris. With the railroad came the people.

The WCROC overlook

A nice view to the west is afforded from the WCROC overlook. It's a relatively new feature of the WCROC grounds. Specifically it's part of the WCROC Horticulture Garden. Click on the image to reach the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) website. Les Lindor was instrumental in making the overlook a reality. He served the West Central Experiment Station (the entity predating the WCROC) as ag engineer.

Stay informed about Stevens County MN:

Morris' music mecca:

Words to live by

This original and popular sign can be seen from the highway between Morris and Cyrus. It's associated with the late Dan Helberg. There used to be a sculpture next to it but perhaps it was removed due to legal restrictions (i.e. as a distraction). The sign has the thumbs-up for which we are grateful. Let's always heed these words.

Some spring/summer photo scenes:

The bike trail system

Call it both a walking and bicycling trail. It snakes along both the east and west sides of our Pomme de Terre River. You can do a complete lap which reportedly measures 4 1/2 miles. It's a fitness challenge for those willing to push their bodies a little! This photo was taken on the east side of the river, heading toward Lake Crissey (a wide spot on the river). Spring is a great time to get out there.

Our area's history:

Remembering "ag school"

From the time it accepted its first class in 1910, until it graduated its final class of seniors in 1963, over 7,000 students attended the West Central School of Agriculture. The precursor of the U of M-Morris, it opened its doors to its first class of 103 students in October of 1910.

Wildflowers out by the river

Click on this image to reach the "Minnesota wildflowers" website. This photo was taken on the west side of our Pomme de Terre River.

Before the current library

In 1921 the Stevens County Memorial Armory was built on the 100 block of East 6th Street, the site which is now occupied by the Morris Public Library.1969 saw the opening of the new Morris Public Library on the site of the old armory, leaving vacant the Carnegie building. The Historical Society found a new home in the Carnegie building in 1970.

A suggested restaurant

About Me

Brian Williams is a former writer in the Morris "dead tree" media who plies his pastime in the wonderful, liberating new media today. He refuses to consider himself an alternative journalist because the web is now the mainstream. Newspapers are in rapid retreat and it won't be long before they will exist in vestigial form only. Print media will not die because as a media observer put it: "We will always have print media for as long as there's a 'print' button on your computer." A once weekly newspaper (like in Morris) won't cut it. It's not consistent with our instant gratification culture. But the media are blossoming more than ever thanks to all the new tools. It's an uplifting, "green" new universe. Key word suggestions: morris mn - hancock mn - donnelly mn - cyrus mn - chokio mn - alberta mn - 56267 - stevens county - morris theater mn - morris area tigers - hancock owls.

Buy a car:

Pomme de Terre or Perkins?

Most maps identify it as "Perkins Lake" but it's known as Pomme de Terre to many local residents. The sign at the entry to the lake access uses the Pomme de Terre term, so that seems legitimate. This lake is part of a chain that represent wide spots on the Pomme de Terre River. Pomme de Terre Lake is useful for recreation and fishing, plus there are many fine residences along the shoreline. The chain is located several miles north of Morris.

A Destiny Driver. . .

"I Love Morris" is consistent with one of the "destiny drivers" as articulated by Stevens Forward! (named for Stevens County): "By 2010 we will enhance our interconnectedness by better utilizing the technology infrastructure to create a virtual community." (2010 is already here but this is always a "work in progress!")

We're the "Storm" in hockey

Click on this image to reach the official website of the Morris Benson Area "Storm" hockey program. Of course it's "MBA" for short. In Morris these teams play at the Lee Community Center, next to the fairgrounds.

B.W.'s country music memories, 1996-97:

Your Congressman:

Maintain perspective:

Main street of Morris mn

Atlantic Avenue is the main street of Morris and it's typically abuzz. Click on the above image to reach the Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission website.

Gager's Station

The first stopping place in Stevens County was Gager's Station, considered by some historians to be one of the more important stopping plces on the Wadsworth Trail. The station was nestled among the trees near Wintermute Lake.

VIDEO CLIPS

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The Eagles huddle

Blue is the color of the Morris amateur baseball team which goes by the nickname "Eagles." They're pictured about to break a pre-game huddle at their home: Chizek Field, named for the late Don Chizek who coached the Morris High Tigers for many years. The Tigers now have their own veteran coach in Lyle Rambow. Lyle had a successful playing career with the Eagles.

RIP jazz band leaders:

Best dog you could own:

"Dog is my co-pilot":

Superb early-morning TV:

Wind turbines - morris mn

There are two grand wind turbines such as this one on the eastern edge of Morris. It appears glistening white in this photo but they often are dark, silhouetted against the bright sky. A photographer never tires of them. They have become sustainable symbols of the community.

A trail of long ago here

The Wadsworth Trail was established by the U.S. Government in 1864 to transport supplies from St. Cloud to Fort Wadsworth, west of present day Sisseton, South Dakota.

No longer just a comedian:

She's upstaging Jim Klobuchar now:

Visit our McDonald's

It's a hotspot for dependable fast food and, just as important, socializing: our McDonald's Restaurant on the north end of Atlantic Avenue.

Our park in west Morris

Wells Park, located near Pacific Avenue and West 11th Street, was established in 1916 on land donated to the city by Henry Wells (a successful businessman and land investor) and Margaret Hulburd. Additional land was donated in 1935 by the Wells Investment Company, and in 1980 by Grace Zamerow.